A difficult start to the 2024 LEC Summer Split has seen Team Heretics end the opening weekend 1-2. This comes after a change in coaching staff that was initially claimed to be a false rumor by former head coach Peter Dun. He has now seen the rumors become reality and moves to a new role in order to make way for the promoted Machuki. We spoke to Heretics’ legendary jungler Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski to ask him about the changes and get his thoughts on the 1-2 start.
Jankos: I definitely think it sucks because I think we should show more than we did. I do believe that out of the two of the drafts we played, at least the BDS draft was completely winnable, but they are also up on us and we got caught a little bit by surprise. And I think even though they messed up, we messed up harder.
Then against MAD Lions I also feel like the game was winnable even though the draft was difficult to play. But again, we messed up more than they did, so we lost.
I think with this kind of performance we can dream about playoffs. I think we have to step up way, way more if we want to even make it there to the Season Finals, because our goal is to make it the world. But I mean, yeah, we are not showing any progress compared to spring split. It’s definitely disastrous.
Lee Jones: On the broadcast it looked like Team Heretics only used 4 bans in the match against MDK.
Jankos: Yeah, we had some difficulties banning the fifth champion. It was called a bit late and because the keyboards and mice we are using are different from the stage ones, I think we couldn’t type the name of the champion time. That being said, we would’ve banned a champion that they didn’t pick, so it’s fine.
Image credit: Riot Games
Jankos: I think it’s okay. We have a different coach for drafting now, a different coach for the main game talk. It brings a fresh vibe.
The only thing is that we are changing something every split. Compared to the Winter split when we started the year, the team and the roster is so much different. So there’s a lot of changes going on. But if there are changes, we are trying to change for the better, not for the worse, so we are trying our best.
Lee: There was a bit of drama with Peter Dun publicly denying the initial leaks of the coaching changes, only for them to prove correct.
Jankos: No, to be honest, I didn’t see anything. I was just kind of focusing on off season and trying to increase my individual skill, stream and play solo queue. So that was on my mind.
Lee: On the broadcast they billed the match-up against MDK Elyoya as one between the rivals for “King of the Jungle”.
Jankos: I did not win the game, so it’s very difficult for me to call myself the King of the Jungle after the last two games. I do consider myself better than him throughout many years, but he also had a lot of good performances. Yeah, it’s very difficult to say if you are talking about our legacy or as players for many years, but at least today he’s the better player.
Lee: There was a debate online surrounding the nature of criticism of players by the broadcast and analysts, particularly surrounding Upset and Targamas, and some fans had even argued that negative criticism should not happen on broadcast at all.
Jankos: I think criticism is fine as long as it’s justified. I think it was about Upset finishing tenth three times and I do agree from a player’s perspective, maybe it’s not your fault – you are a team. If you win, you are with a team. If you lose, you lose as a team. But I mean, they’re just pointing out statistics I suppose, and they are trying to make storylines based on that.
I’ve been on two sides of it. I’ve been called s*** and washed and a choker, I’ve also been called the best and very good and constantly a very stable player. So I don’t mind that much.
If, let’s say the narrative right now is that I’m washed and I should retire and, you know, why am I even here, then I might have difficulties finding a job next year, for example.
It is what it is, right? I don’t think we can impact it and I think it’s fine. But it is true that casters/co-streamers can impact the view of fans on the player quite a lot. So I do think they should be quite careful what they say because they have many, many viewers. They have people watching.
Sometimes you are as good as your last game and it’s completely fine to get s*** on for performing badly. But at the same time, we are also human beings. If you s*** on us because we played like s***, that’s fine. But don’t s*** on us because we are trying to do it in our best way. We really have no intention of inting or performing bad… I hope so at least – I’m talking for myself!
Read next: Hylissang - I wouldn't say the criticism is justified
LOL
CS2
Dota 2
Valorant
Fortnite
Call of Duty
Mobile Games
Gaming
